Texas hires Louisville Coach Strong

[Old Tiger]

I think this is a good hire from a football standpoint. It remains to be seen if it is a good fit politics wise.

However, ut needs to do some self-reflection in this and realize that their inflated opinion of themselves and the arrogance by many of their influential boosters is clouding their judgment and painting a negative picture around the country. First, they totally botched the Saban thing. There's choice #1. Depending on who you believe, they then focused on guys like harbaugh andtTomlin. Then it went to briles and then mora. Then things went to the strong franklins of the world.

So for all their power, money and prestige, ut ended up with their 5th or 6th choice depending on how you want to look at this. There is a perception, right or wrong, that there is major dysfunction and the boosters are a major pain in the ass.

From what I gather the choices to begin with were from a group, you don't go down a check list of coaches in a process like this. That is bad business.

The group that Patterson centered around was Briles, Franklin, Mora Jr, and Strong. I listed those in alphabetical order not in AD preference. The committee/firm that was hired was to bypass job posting laws in Texas. Once the names Briles and Mora Jr were "no longer interested" that was a signal that a choice has been made and UT chose to move forward with Strong. They through in Franklin's name as a consolation prize in thanks for his participation in the process.

The names of Fisher, Gruden, Harbaughs, and Saban were names being thrown out by big money donors who think they are entrenched in the program because of access that was allowed by Deloss and Mack.


It appears that Patterson along with Strong plan to turn this into a football school again and weed out the politics by winning. The school will continue to generate ridiculous revenue and should only increase with winning.

[Macarthur]

So Mac are you saying they settled for 5th or 6th choice?

I have no idea.

[Macarthur]

The names of Fisher, Gruden, Harbaughs, and Saban were names being thrown out by big money donors who think they are entrenched in the program because of access that was allowed by Deloss and Mack.

They THINK they are entrenched? Those people write the checks. They are as imbedded as a fat tick.

It appears that Patterson along with Strong plan to turn this into a football school again and weed out the politics by winning. The school will continue to generate ridiculous revenue and should only increase with winning.

But your post highlights exactly what I was pointing out. Who was really doing the coach search?


Again, I think the move was good from a football standpoint. And of course winning games will take care of the other but if a little adversity hits,.....

[Old Tiger]

They THINK they are entrenched? Those people write the checks. They are as imbedded as a fat tick.



But your post highlights exactly what I was pointing out. Who was really doing the coach search?


Again, I think the move was good from a football standpoint. And of course winning games will take care of the other but if a little adversity hits,.....

Their donations are at max only 25% of the money that Texas makes.


Obviously it was Patterson because as I stated in that post he narrowed down to the guys he wanted and went with the guy he felt would be the best football hire.

[Old Tiger]

Here is a video/article about the S&C coach he is bringing with him.

http://louisvillesportslive.net/insi...oorer-the-pit/

[Macarthur]

Their donations are at max only 25% of the money that Texas makes.

You and I understand that but try and tell Tom Hicks he doesn't have that much influence.

[1st and goal]

The school will continue to generate ridiculous revenue and should only increase with winning.

All the T-shirt fans are due for some new t-shirts. Should be a major money maker.

[bobcat1]

Here is a video/article about the S&C coach he is bringing with him.

http://louisvillesportslive.net/insi...oorer-the-pit/

Now that I like. Dallas could use that guy.

[Macarthur]

http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/writ...oesnt-do-solid

This puts it into pretty good perspective, Imo.

[bwdlionfan]

All the T-shirt fans are due for some new t-shirts. Should be a major money maker.

And Johnny Football didn't make a ton of money off of T-shirt fans for A&M?

I am continually baffled how it is horrible that UT has fans who didn't go to the school, but it's okay for A&M and Tech to have fans who didn't attend the school.

Heck I see Alabama shirts all the time from people who've probably never even been inside the state of Alabama.

[Emerson1]

And Johnny Football didn't make a ton of money off of T-shirt fans for A&M?

I am continually baffled how it is horrible that UT has fans who didn't go to the school, but it's okay for A&M and Tech to have fans who didn't attend the school.

Heck I see Alabama shirts all the time from people who've probably never even been inside the state of Alabama.

Blasphemy! UT is the only school with t-shirt fans. Don't pay any attention to the huge increase in fan bases by other Texas schools the last two seasons...

[Celina8]

I have no clue if Charlie Strong is the best hire for Texas, only time will tell. What I do know is that he will bring a new energy to Austin and this football team that has been lacking for some time. This will be an intense spring on the 40 acres and these coaches are going to want to find out who belongs on this team and who does not. There will be many comparisons to Sumlin's first year and 11-2 record and Strongs first year at Texas. I will say that Sherman left the A&M program in much better shape with the talent and developement of that talent than what Mack has left UT. Strong has talent to work with, but I don't think it is near the level what so many people think. Many of the 5 and 4 stars recruits that Texas signed ended up leaving the program and going elsewhere. I think Strong will do like many coaches who enter a new program and field a young team on both sides of the ball in hopes of building experience with both his system and college level play that pays off in year 3. I actually do not think Ash will be the starting QB for Texas next year as Strong will put in a young QB that he wants to grow into his system. Look for the QB from Denton Guyer if he sticks with his commit to take that role. Do not be surprise to see Swoops transfer out of Texas as I just do not think he will be Strongs QB choice. I cannot give you any reason for why I believe this other than the QB from Guyer just seems to have more speed and football instincts than Swoops. I also think the LB position at Texas will be a prime focus for changes under Strong. Speed and great tackling technique will have to be addressed and I think Strong will bring this to the offseason program. Any coach change brings excitment to any program and Texas is no different . It will be interesting to see what changes takes place for the Longhorns in 2014.

[Macarthur]

I dont think anyone questions that strong is a good football man.

However, when you had Saban and some of your idiot ego driven boosters f'd it up, this is a tough consolation.

Keep in mind, patterson was very successful at a lesser conference also. The move to the big 12 has not been kind to tcu. I think the question right now, is strong better than Stoops? Is he better than bbriles, Snyder, grundy or patterson? I don't think we know if hes BETTER than any of those guys.

[Scoop27]

From Saturday Night
By Kirk Bohls and Brian Davis - American-Statesman Staff

Charlie Strong informed Louisville officials late Saturday that he intends to leave the school and accept the head football coaching position at the University of Texas, a Louisville spokesman said.

Texas officials did not make any announcement Saturday because they were honoring Strong’s wishes to have a face-to-face meeting with Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich, who was stuck in Colorado most of the day and couldn’t return to Kentucky because of inclement weather.
+ Texas awaits word from Strong on football coaching offer photo John Raoux
Louisville coach Charlie Strong holds the trophy after Louisville defeated Miami 36-9 in the Russell Athletic Bowl NCAA college football game ... read more

Jurich finally got home late Saturday and the two met, according to the Louisville spokesman.

A high-ranking UT source told the American-Statesman that Strong was first offered the job on Friday but didn’t immediately accept out of respect for Jurich, the man who gave Strong his first head coaching job after almost two decades as an assistant. Strong has compiled a 37-15 record in four seasons with the Cardinals.

The 53-year-old Arkansas native was offered a five-year contract at Texas worth approximately $5 million annually, the UT source said. Any contract would have to be approved by the UT System Board of Regents.

What kind of recruiter will Strong be at Texas? Look to Louisville’s classes

Strong can’t bring one particular Louisville assistant with him

Golden: Texas’ historic hire also comes with lofty expectations

Bohls: Strong wasn’t the first choice, but will he be the best one?

Texas officials have sent a plane to Louisville to pick up Strong and his wife, Victoria, and their two daughters. They are expected to arrive in Austin on Sunday and spend the day touring the campus and seeing the football facilities, according a source close to the situation. The school will have an introductory press conference on Monday.

In some respects, Strong’s hiring is a history-making event. He becomes the first black head coach of any men’s sport in University of Texas history. This is something some university officials have been privately hoping would happen.

The American-Statesmen reported in December that longtime UT benefactor Red McCombs, whose name is on the UT business school, would support school officials if they hired a minority head coach — assuming he was the right candidate for the job.

The Longhorns have had only one black coach lead one of their four major programs. Rod Page was the women’s basketball coach for two seasons in the mid-1970s before giving way to Jody Conradt.

Strong and Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin now give the state of Texas a powerhouse combo — two minority coaches sitting atop the biggest athletic programs at the state’s two flagship universities.

Had Strong fallen through, Texas athletic director Steve Patterson was prepared to go after Vanderbilt’s James Franklin, who also is black. Once reports surfaced Friday that UT had picked Strong, Franklin’s name was almost immediately attached to the vacant Penn State job or possible NFL openings.

Even though Strong kept Texas waiting on Saturday, school officials felt so comfortable about their pick, Patterson didn’t even bother to contact Franklin, a source said. The only major problem was Mother Nature.

Jurich, who was vacationing in Steamboat Springs, Colo., was stuck there most of the day Saturday because of inclement weather. Jurich was scheduled to fly home on a commercial plane, but once news broke, a private plane was sent to retrieve him.

Around midday, a Louisville source said a private plane was parked in Salina, Kan., while pilots waited for snowstorms to clear. Meanwhile back in Austin, everybody had to cool their jets.

Privately, UT officials must have had some feeling of concern. Strong accepted the Tennessee job in December 2012 and then backed out after talking with Jurich. He decided then to stay at Louisville. That won’t be the case this time.

“He wants to do this thing right,” a Texas source told the American-Statesman.

Given the frantic timeline, Strong probably won’t have time to tell his Louisville players he’s leaving himself. The Cardinals were not scheduled to be back on campus until 5 p.m. Sunday for a previously scheduled team meeting. Louisville will start school again Monday.

Strong had been scheduled to fly to Bristol, Conn., to participate in ESPN’s coverage of the BCS national championship game. It’s unclear whether that will still happen, although Texas officials would want Strong on TV to promote the Longhorns instead of the Cardinals.

The hurry-up-and-wait process started late Friday, with reports that Strong had been offered and had accepted the job. A high-ranking UT source told the American-Statesman that Strong had received an offer but that the deal hadn’t been finalized. Strong wanted to talk to Jurich, the source said.

The eight-person selection committee, which had been kept in the dark throughout this whole process, had a conference call Friday to discuss the situation, according to a high-ranking UT source.

Patterson conducted the entire search almost by himself, with some help vetting candidates from Jed Hughes, an executive from the search firm Korn/Ferry International.

On Saturday morning, Strong had a 15-minute meeting with his assistant coaches in the Louisville football offices. He told them nothing definitive, a source close to Strong said. The Louisville assistant coaches quickly left the football offices without saying anything to media waiting outside.

Several Louisville reporters issued tweets that Cardinals coaches were calling their recruits with updates on the situation. That is allowed under NCAA rules even though the NCAA-mandated recruiting dead period doesn’t end until Jan. 16. Phone calls are allowed but face-to-face contact is not.

That date was critical because it’s the deadline Patterson gave himself. He said the football program had to “be open for business” by then because coaches could be seeing recruits and filling out the 2014 recruiting class. National signing day is Feb. 5.

CHARLIE STRONG: FYI

Age: 53

At Louisville: Went 37-15 in four seasons, leading the Cardinals to four bowl games, including one BCS bowl, a 2012 Sugar Bowl win over Florida. Went 12-1 this season, and was one victory away from a second straight BCS bowl berth. His defensive coordinator, Vance Bedford, was a Longhorns defensive back from 1977 to 1981.

Before Louisville: Served as defensive coordinator for Florida and South Carolina. Was considered a candidate for Texas’ defensive coordinator’s position in 2011.

About Strong: He is a defensive-minded coach who turned around Louisville’s program quickly; the Cardinals had gone 1-6 in conference play the two years before his arrival. He was an all-conference safety as a player at Central Arkansas and served as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M in 1995.

At Texas: Strong inherits a team that went 8-5 and lost to Oregon in the Alamo Bowl. Texas played for the Big 12 championship and a Fiesta Bowl berth in the final week of the season, but lost at Baylor. The Longhorns return quarterback David Ash; running backs Johnathan Gray, Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron; wide receiver Jaxon Shipley; and several defensive leaders, including linebackers Jordan Hicks, Steve Edmond and Dalton Santos, and cornerback Quandre Diggs. Defensive end Cedric Reed, a junior, is deliberating about whether to return for his senior year or declare himself eligible for the NFL draft. Strong will have to shore up Texas’ 22 high school commitments for next year’s recruiting class, establish relationships with the state’s high school coaches, make decisions about his Longhorns staff, sign a class of recruits on national signing day in February, and then get his team and program ready for spring football.

[Saggy Aggie]

I think Strong a pretty solid hire football wise. I don't know much about his recruiting though. Any info? I know with the resources Texas has, he will recruit well regardless